Spring-winder.



R. TITUS.

SPRING WINDER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.2, 1910 Patented Jan.2, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

R. TITUS.

SPRING WINDEB.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 1910.

Patented J an. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4 /2521)" l nventor,

Attorneys Witnes RICHARD TITUS, OF BOWLING GREEN, OHIO.

SPRING-WINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

Application filed April 2, 1910. Serial No. 552,981.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD TITUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bowling Green, in the county of Wood and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Spring-Winder, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates generally to Wire coiling machines and particularly to devices for winding spiral springs.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide adjustable means for spacing the different coils of the spring away from each other during the operation of winding the same, so as to determine the character of the spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for winding a spring upon a tapered mandrel.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for guiding the wire to the mandrel in such manner as to produce either a right or left hand spring.

Further objects of the invention are generally to improve and simplify the construction of such devices, as well as to increase their efliciency in operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the structure herein disclosed can be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification :Figure 1 is a plan view of a spring winder constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the spacing member. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the spacing member. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the wire guiding means. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing, in elevation, a portion of the apparatus. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The particular embodiment of invention herein-disclosed, briefly described, comprises an elongated journal member 1 having V-shaped notches in one side thereof and a clamp member at the bottom for securing the device to a table, shelf or the like.

The mandrel on which the spring is to be wound, which mandrel may be either straight or tapered in form, is fitted partially or wholly into the V-shaped notches of the journal member, acording as to whether the mandrel is large or small, and is held in said notches by means of bolts having enlarged eyes to receive the mandrel, the shanks of the bolts extending into the journal member and being adjustably secured thereto. Adjustably mounted on the journal member opposite the mandrel is a bracket which carries a tension member for feeding the wire under tension to the mandrel, a plate for guiding said wire and a spacing device for determining the distance between the different coils. Acrank member is suitably connected with the ends of the mandrel for rotating the same with relation to the journal member so as to wind the wire thereon.

The journal member 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists preferably of an elongated plate, to the lower surface of which is secured a clamping member 2 having a set screw '3 therein. The clamping member 2 is fitted over the edge of a table, shelf or the like so that the clamp 2 engages the under surface thereof and the plate 1 rests on the upper surface thereof, the set screw 3 being adapted to, secure the device in place. The plate 1 is formed along the inner edge thereof with an upstanding integral flange 3 which serves to produce a structure which is right angular in cross section as shown in Fig. 2. The plate 1 is provided on the upper surface thereof with a pair of partitions or supports 5 and 6 which preferably are cast integral with the plate 1 and flange 3 and taper from their inner to their outer ends as shown in Fig. 1. Each of the partitions 5 and 6, as shown clearly in Fig. 7, is formed in its outer side edge with an ap proximately -V-shaped notch 7 which is adapted partially or wholly to receive the mandrel 8 on which the wire 9 is to be wound, the mandrel being held in the notch '7 by means of the enlarged eyes 10 formed on the end of bolts 11 which extend through the flange 3 and are provided on their inner end with wing nuts 14. The eyes 10 of the bolts 11 are large enough to receive diiferent sizes of mandrelsS and to hold the same securely within the notches 7 and yet permit the rotation of the mandrel.

The means for rotating the mandrel preferably consists of a crank 15 having a handle l6 and an inner end formed with a triangular opening 17 adapted to receive the end of the mandrel 8, said mandrel being securely jammed into the pointed end of the triangle by means such as the wing nut 18. By forming the crank '15 with a triangular opening and by employing a wing nut with a shank to jam the mandrel in one of the ends of the triangle, the handle 15 is adapted to be used with mandrels of different sizes without any other adjustment than the screwingin or out of the set screw or wing ing of the bolt, and the wire 9 is securely held in position during the operation of winding the spring, it being understood that the other end of the wire is fed onto the mandrel under suitable tension.

The means for guiding the wire onto the mandrel 8 preferably consists of a guide plate 25 shown in Figs.1 and 5. The guide plate 25, is adjustably secured in the manner hereinafter described, to' an approximately rightrangular bracket 26, the inner end of which is parallel with and fits closely against the flange 3 of the journal member and is adjustably secured to said flange by means of the bolts 11 and wing nuts 14, said bolts '11 extending through suitable longitudinal slots 27 formed in the bracket 26, so that by loosening thewing nuts 14 the bracket 26 can be longitudinally adjusted upon the flange 3, so far as the length of the f slots 27 will permit, after which thebracket "26 can be locked in'position by tightening the wing nuts '14. The guide plate 25 for guiding the wire onto the mandrel, preferably is constructed as shown in Fig. 5 and consists'of a thin outer portion 30 having therein a pair of perforations 31, and a thick inner portion 32 through which extend with one of the two guide grooves 34. Each of the openings 31 is disposed in line with one of the two guide grooves 34.

When the wire 9 is being wrapped in one direction on the mandrel 8, it is fed through one of the grooves 34 and when it is desired to feed the same in the opposite direction on the mandrel it is fed through the other groove. The tensioning of the wire is secured by means of a tension device 35 which is in the form of a bolt extending through the bracket 26 and through one or the other of the openings 31. The bolt 35 at its inner end is formed with a transverse opening to receive the wire 9 so that when the bolt is tightened it will place the necessary tension on said wire tocause it to be properly wound upon the mandrel. The tensioning bolt 35 is shifted from one to the other of the openings 31, according to whether the wire is being fed in a right or left hand di-' rection. In other words the bolt 35 is adjusted so as to be in front of the groove 34 through which the wire is being fed. At

its outer end, the bolt 35 is provided with a wing nut 36 by means of which it may be suitably tightened. As it is desired to adjust the guide plate 25 in the manner hereinafter described, toward and from the mandrel so as to permit either a straight or tapered mandrel to be employed, it is necessary that the tension bolt 35 extend through the bracket 26 in such manner as not to interfere with the adjustment of the guide plate 25. In order to accomplish this result the outer end of the bracket 26, as shown in Fig. 2, is formed with a groove 37 having longitudinal extensions 38 and 39 communicating therewith. When the tension nut 36 is in one or the. other of the slots 38, the guide plate 25 can beadjusted toward or from the mandrel.

The means for adjusting the guide plate 25 upon the bracket 26 preferably consists of a bolt 40 having a wing nut 41 and an enlarged head 42. The bolt 40 extends through a'perforation 43 in the center of the guide plate 25 and also through a slot 44 formed in the bracket26. By loosening the wing nut 41 the bolt 40 and guide plate 25 may be adjusted in the slot 44.

The means for spacing the difi'erent coils of the wire apart, preferably consists of a spacing member 45 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The spacing member 45 preferably consists of a handle 46 and a segmental head, said spacing member being pivotally mounted upon the bolt 40 by means of a perforation 47 formed in the handle. The arcuate edge of the Tsegmental'head of the spacing member has a segmental recess 48 and that portion of the arcuate edge ex tending from this recess to one end of the head is concentricwith the pivot 47 whilethe remaining portion of the arcuate edge is eccentric with relation to said pivot. Those portions of the arcuate edge located next to the opposite sides of the recess 48' an edge of this variable width, one face of the head has been beveled along the arcuate edge of the head, the extent of the bevel gradually diminishing from the recess 48 to the two ends of the head. In using the spacing device with a cylindrical mandrel, that portion of the arcuate edge which is concentric with the pivot 47 is employed while the remaining portion of the arcuate edge is used when the device is employed in connection with a tapered mandrel. If it is desired to wind the spring with its convolutions spaced apart considerable distances, the head 45 is adjusted to bring one of the ends of its arcuate edge into contact with the mandrel. Said head will thus proj ect between the convolutions and hold them properly spaced while the wire is being wrapped about the mandrel. By shifting the head about its pivot 47, the distance between the convolutions can be reduced, this reduction being in proportion to the extent of movement of the recess 48 toward the mandrel. When the sharpened portion of the head, to wit that portion next to the recess 48, is brought into position between the convolutions, said convolutions will be spaced apart the minimum distance. Should it be desired to wind the spring with its convolutions in contact, the head 45 is adjusted so as to bring the wall of the recess 48 into contact with the contacting convolutions which convolutions are located between the wall of the recess and the mandrel. The wall of said recess thus operates to smooth out the convolutions as the mandrel rotates, thus making them of uniform size.

The device of the present invention is strong, simple, durable and inexpensive in construction as well as thoroughly etficient in operation.

In winding certain kinds of springs, the guide plate illustrated in Fig. 5 may be dispensed with if desired.

What is claimed as new is 1. A spring winding machine including a mandrel, means for rotating the same, means for supplying wire to the mandrel, an adjustable spacing means cooperating with the mandrel and having an arcuate spacing edge of variable width, and means for adjusting said spacing means during the winding operation.

2. A spring winding machine including a mandrel, means for rotating the same, means for feeding wire to the mandrel, adjustable means cooperating with the mandrel and including an arcuate spacing edge of gradually varying thickness, and means for adjusting said adjustable means during the winding operation.

3. A spring winding machine including a mandrel, means for rotating the same, means for supplying wire to themandrel,

.and an adjustable device cooperating with the mandrel and having an arcuate spacing edge and a recess, said edge gradually diminishing inathickness toward the recess.

4. A spring winding machine including a mandrel, means for securing a wire thereto, means for feeding wire to the mandrel, and an adjustably supported device having an arcuate spacing edge cooperating with the mandrel, there being a recess in said edge for the reception of the mandrel and convolutions of wire thereon, the said edge being of variable thickness.

5. A machine of the class described including winding mechanism, wire feeding mechanism, a spacing device having an arc uate edge of variable thickness cooperating with the mandrel, and means for adjusting said spacing device during the winding operation.

6. In a machine of the class described winding mechanism, wire feeding means cooperating therewith, and an adjustable spacing device having an arcuate edge cooperating with the mandrel, said edge being of variable thickness and there being a recess within said edge for the reception of the convolutions of the wire being wound.

7 In a machine of the class described the combination with winding mechanism and means for feeding wire to said mechanism, of spacing means including a head mounted for swinging movement, said head having an arcuate spacing edge, a portion of said edge being concentric with the pivot of the head and the remainder of the edge being eccentric relative to said pivot, there being a mandrel receiving recess within said edge at a point between said concentric and eccentric portions, said edge gradually increasing in thickness from the recess toward the ends of the head.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with winding mechanism, including a mandrel, of a guide plate having wire receiving grooves converging toward the mandrel, and a tension device carried by said plate and shiftable for engagement with a wire in either groove.

9. In a machine of the class described the combination with winding mechanism including a mandrel, of a guide plate shiftable relative to the mandrel and having a wire receiving groove, a tension device carried by said plate for engaging a wire with.- in the groove, and spacing means pivotally connected to said plate and including a head having an arcuate edge of varying thickness and cooperating with the mandrel.

10. In a machine of the class described the combination with winding mechanism including a mandrel, of a guide plate having a wire receiving groove extending toward the mandrel, a tension device carried by the plate, and a spacing element pivotally connected to the plate and including a head having an arcuate spacing edge of variable thickness, and means for shifting said head relative to the mandrel during the Winding operation to vary the pitch of the convolutions of the Wire upon the mandrel. 11. In a machine of the class described the combination With Winding mechanism includin a mandrel, of means for feeding Wire to 't e mandrel, and means under the control of an operator for gradually varying the pitch of the convolutions of the Wire upon the mandrel during the rotation of the mandrel.

12.'In a machine of the class described,

Winding mechanism including a journal member, supports thereon having angular mandrel recelving recesses, a mandrel mounted for rotation Within said recesses, ad ustable means surroundlng the mandrel for securing it within the recess, said means having mandrel receiving openings 7 of greater diameter than "the mandrel, an actuating device havlng an angular orifice for the reception of the mandrel, and means for securing the mandrel in one corner por-' RICHARD TITUS. V

Witnesses:

P. J. CHAsE, J. G. STERN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

